The Analysis: Shafali Verma needs looking after amid rough period

NICK HOWSON: It has been easy to forget amid the India batter's rise top that she is still a teenager. While suffering a downturn in form, it is important we remember it now more than ever

On the day that Sky Brown became Great Britain and Northern Ireland's youngest ever Olympic medallist by scooping bronze in the women's park skateboarding aged 13 years and 28 days, it was heartening to see Birmingham Phoenix against Oval Invincibles kicked off by a couple of teenagers.

Alice Capsey bowled the opening five to Shafali Verma. Their combined age (34 years and 181 days) is mercifully greater than mine but it was a snapshot of what this competition is all about.

While this has essentially been Capsey's breakthrough tournament, this is just another stop on the journey being taken by Verma.

This is her 12th competitive match on English shores this summer if you include the multi-format international series against England.

Ironically for a player who made her name against the white-ball, Verma's best knock of the summer came against the red nut in the one-off Test at Bristol.

The 11 that have followed in her favoured limited-overs guise had seen her surpass 22 just twice and really struggle to showcase the consistent power hitting that has delivered a T20 strike-rate of 145 and helped her continually make gains in the women's T20 Player Index, where she sits at No.32.

^{Verma struck 96 in the one-off Test against England at Bristol}

In many ways, this was the most concerning knock of the dozen. A run-a-ball 16 which saw her retreat into her shell. Only once did we see the reckless abandon that has defined her career in the public eye, a drive through mid-off for a second four.

She fell one delivery short of the halfway mark in the Phoenix innings as she failed to pick Eva Gray's knuckleball. There have been more curious innings in this competition than hers, but not many and it made a difference as the Invincibles chased down the 130 target with three balls left and eight wickets in hand.

Pace off has not been her friend on this tour. You think about the variations that contributed to her downfall against London Spirit and Trent Rockets, from Freya Davies and Katherine Brunt, and this is quickly emerging as areas of weakness.

As one of the most talked-about cricketers on the planet, Verma's loss of form will not go unnoticed.

Indeed, Nick Knight who led Sky Sports' coverage admitted they spend "every game" hyping Verma before matches in the women's Hundred.

England batter Tammy Beaumont explained: "You've got to understand that she is not going to be consistent. Her age, the way she plays the summer she's had, she is not going to come off every time. You've got to support her and know that the one or two games she does she is going to win you a game single-handedly."

"I've been thinking about her a lot," added Lydia Greenway. "I know she is still young and I know she is an international cricketer but she has probably not been in this situation.

^{Variations in pace have not been Verma's friend}

"A coach you work with on a regular basis, you don't have that when you come into competitions like this.

"When you're going through a tough time you need someone to bounce ideas around. It might be one thing that can change things."

Both Beaumont and Greenway are right. Rather than condemnation, this 17-year-old needs support. Amid her rise to the top, it has been easy to forget that Verma is still a teenager. Now, it needs remembering more than ever.

If we have learned anything over the last few weeks and months, it doesn't matter whether you're Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka or Ben Stokes, scrutiny on top of the pressure you place on yourself can have a lasting effect.

I'm of the opinion that Verma will be among the new breed of superstar sportswomen, alongside the American tennis star Coco Gauff, who has already made waves on and off the court.

They're exciting to watch, hold their own on high-profile stages and have the talent to burn. While the WTA Tour will showcase the best of Gauff, we have to hope the BCCI hold up their end of the bargain. They owe it global cricket to ensure Verma not only doesn't become a commodity we only see at global competitions every couple of years but that she is nurtured correctly.

Instead of looking for a cause and effect, cricket would do well to search for ways to help.